Sound is one of the most important—and often least understood—parts of a production. On this episode of Call Sheet Confessions, host Mia LePage talks with sound mixer and business owner Pablo Mena about finding his way into the sound department, building a career in Los Angeles, and what it takes to capture great audio on set.

Pablo shares practical insights on boom versus lav mics, tricky wardrobe and mic placements, preparing gear, solving sound problems, and why “fix it in post” isn’t always the answer. He also reflects on working across commercials, reality TV, music videos, and major productions—and on the importance of looking out for your crew and building a strong community.

Follow Pablo: Instagram — @PabloMena
Mia’s and the podcast’s social media handles weren’t provided in the episode transcript, so I haven’t guessed them.

Chapters
00:00 Meet sound mixer Pablo Mena
01:18 Growing up in Mexico and becoming a TV host
04:42 Moving to Los Angeles to study film
08:20 Finding his way into sound
11:09 Mic placement tricks and a challenging wardrobe
14:16 A sound mixer’s setup and day on set
19:17 Why sound can be overlooked on set
23:34 Connecting with talent and building trust
29:26 Sound mixer, A1, A2, and boom operator roles
34:13 Pablo’s first production job and career beginnings
38:04 The technical, creative, and problem-solving sides of sound
39:17 Working on Dance Moms: The Reunion
44:34 Favorite projects and capturing behind-the-scenes moments
54:04 Hot takes: reality TV, boom versus lav, and set life
01:02:13 Crew loyalty and building Still Speeding LLC
01:12:24 Advice for aspiring sound mixers
01:15:40 Pride, happiness, and what’s next
01:21:05 Where to find Pablo and closing remarks

Follow Pablo: Instagram — @PabloMena

CALL SHEET CONFESSIONS
CSC Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/callsheetconfesspod/

Mia Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/mialepage/

Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/2PZkkg10gXNJTd5Y5JHb9a?si=632ca9d243e047e1

Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/call-sheet-confessions/id1884911125
Website:
www.callsheetconfessions.com

In this episode of Call Sheet Confessions, host Mia LePage sits down with filmmaker, director, and creative director Nayip Anthony Garcia for an honest conversation about building a career behind the camera.

Nayip reflects on how early music videos helped shape his career, the lessons he learned working as an extra and production assistant, and why he believes in giving every project his full effort. He also discusses directing Almost Popular, creating safer and more inclusive sets, navigating the ups and downs of freelance work, and staying grounded through routine and personal growth.

Plus, hear his advice for aspiring filmmakers: start making things with the tools you have, prepare thoroughly, and stay adaptable when a shoot doesn’t go according to plan.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome and Nayip’s early music-video work
05:00 How “Banji” changed his career
13:00 Starting out as an extra and PA
23:00 Personal struggles, recovery, and routine
31:00 Female perspectives and Almost Popular
38:00 Freelance life, rejection, and staying motivated
46:00 A director’s process and adapting on set
55:00 Hot takes in Hollywood
1:05:00 AI, creative collaboration, and filmmaking
1:12:00 Call Sheet Confession and on-set stories
1:19:00 Advice for aspiring filmmakers
1:26:00 Future projects and creative goals
Follow the host and guest:

CALL SHEET CONFESSIONS

CSC Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/callsheetconfesspod/

Mia Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/mialepage/

Nayip Anthony Garcia: @nayipanthonygarcia

Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/2PZkkg10gXNJTd5Y5JHb9a?si=632ca9d243e047e1

Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/call-sheet-confessions/id1884911125

Website:
www.callsheetconfessions.com

Step back onto set with us for a wild ride through the stories we cannot stop thinking about. In this special compilation episode of Call Sheet Confessions, we’re rounding up the most unforgettable, chaotic, inspiring, and downright unhinged tales from life in entertainment.

From near-disasters to big breaks, hospital escapes to backlot blessings, these are the stories that remind us why we love set life so much.

If you’re a PA, dancer, actor, creative, or just obsessed with how the industry really works, these moments will be living in your head rent free too.

From church dance teams to the Michael Jackson biopic, actor–dancer–writer–producer Rhyan Hill has lived a wild Hollywood journey—and he’s just getting started.

In this episode of Call Sheet Confessions, host Mia LePage sits down with Rhyan to talk about:

Landing the role of Tito Jackson in Michael and what really happened in the room with Antoine Fuqua, Graham King, and Prince Jackson
Learning guitar from scratch, studying Tito’s mannerisms, and performing in front of hundreds of background actors
Growing up as a theater kid at Amazing Grace Conservatory and balancing public school, auditions, and dance training
Dancing in Childish Gambino’s “This Is America”, performing at the Super Bowl with Kendrick Lamar, and working NBA games
Why he chose to study Creative Producing at Chapman University instead of majoring in acting
Turning a classroom script into his new comedy film “Couldn’t Be Me”
The ego problem in the industry, fake “friendships,” and his worst audition story (including that infamous singing disaster)
Real talk advice for aspiring actors, dancers, writers, and producers on creating your own opportunities instead of waiting for the call
If you’re a performer, filmmaker, or anyone trying to build a multi‑hyphenate creative career, this conversation will light a fire under you.

🔔 Subscribe for more conversations with the people behind the call sheet.

If you’ve ever wondered what it really takes to build a sustainable career in the entertainment industry, this episode is your shortcut.
After over 30 episodes of Call Sheet Confessions and conversations with working pros—directors, choreographers, producers, gaffers, cinematographers, dancers, actors, and more—host Mia LePage is breaking down the 10 biggest lessons they all have in common.
In this episode, you’ll learn:

Why being a good human is your #1 career asset

How to start before you feel ready (and why “done beats perfect”)

How to create your own opportunities instead of waiting to be picked

Why relationships ARE the career in entertainment

How resilience and problem-solving keep you in the game

Why your dream is allowed to evolve (without “giving up” on it)

How mindset becomes your competitive advantageWhy you must put your work out there, even when it scares you

How being a multi-hyphenate opens more doors

What it really means to know your worth in this industry
You’ll hear stories and takeaways from guests who’ve worked on projects like:
The Bachelor, Let’s Marry Harry, Euphoria, Fox Sports, Vanderpump Villa, BTS tours, Grammys content, major commercials, and more.
This episode is for you if:
You’re just starting out and don’t know where to beginYou’re in the middle of the grind and feeling exhausted or discouragedYou need a reminder that your dreams are possible—and proof from people actively doing it
At the end of the day, every guest had one thing in common:
They refused to give up.
✨ If you want to work in entertainment, this is your reminder to keep going.

In this episode of Call Sheet Confessions, host Mia LePage sits down with LA-based production assistant and coincidental on‑camera talent Kevin Brew for a brutally honest, hilarious deep dive into what it’s really like working as a PA in Hollywood.

Kevin and Mia first met as production assistants on Everybody’s Live with John Mulaney, and things took a wild turn when the writers realized Kevin’s voice sounded uncannily like Kieran Culkin—landing him an on‑camera bit performing Kieran’s Oscar speech and making him SAG-eligible overnight.

From reality TV mayhem on Let’s Marry Harry, American Idol, and Foul Play, to surviving the freelance hustle, crashing trucks, falling asleep on the job, and figuring out how not to get blacklisted, Kevin shares unfiltered stories and real advice for anyone trying to break into film & TV.

If you’ve ever wondered:

What does a day in the life of a PA actually look like?

What gets PAs rehired vs. quietly never called again?

How do you navigate ego, respect, and “minion” treatment on set?

How do you survive the ups and downs of freelance in Hollywood? …this episode is for you.

Kaity Williams went from making home videos in South Carolina with her twin sister to becoming an award‑winning director of photography in Los Angeles. In this episode of Call Sheet Confessions, host Mia LePage sits down with Kaity to talk about her unconventional path to becoming a DP, why she skipped the traditional camera-assistant ladder, and what really matters more than owning the “perfect” camera.

Kaity opens up about moving to LA with no connections, going into debt to buy an Arri camera, and surviving the slow seasons of freelance life. She shares how mentorship from cinematographer Jay Holben transformed her understanding of lighting, why community is everything in this industry, and how she protects her mental health through jiu-jitsu and life outside of set. They dive into what a DP actually does day-to-day, how to lead a crew, what a great director–DP collaboration looks like, and how to navigate the pressure of answering a thousand questions on set.

You’ll also hear Kaity’s honest “call sheet confession” about the career mistake she wishes she hadn’t made, her favorite projects (including shooting with Brettman Rock in Hawaii and Michael Jackson’s nephews), and her inspiration behind launching her podcast “Exposing the Negative,” which focuses on the realities and mental health challenges of working in entertainment. If you’re an aspiring cinematographer, film student, or anyone curious about the real life of a DP in Hollywood, this conversation is packed with insight, honesty, and practical advice.

In this episode of Call Sheet Confessions, host Matt sits down with therapist-turned-Hollywood interviewer and Really Famous host, Kara Mayer Robinson, for an honest, inspiring deep dive into her unconventional career path and the psychology behind great conversations. Kara shares how she went from growing up obsessed with TV in New Jersey, to majoring in accounting at the University of Florida, to hating her banking job, and finally finding her way back to New York to work at Comedy Central. She explains how listening to an advice call-in radio show and informally “therapizing” her coworkers pushed her to attend Columbia and become a licensed therapist—before pivoting again into writing for outlets like The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Hollywood Reporter.
Kara reveals how those journalism years led her to interviewing major actors, why her background in therapy makes her interviews different, and the moment with Tim Gunn that convinced her to launch her own podcast, Really Famous. She opens up about teaching herself audio gear, editing, and the transition from audio-only to video, including scrappy early YouTube experiments and how the pandemic changed her process. Kara also talks candidly about nerves, anxiety, and performance pressure—sharing therapist-approved tools for reframing fear as excitement, staying present in the moment, and handling the emotional rollercoaster of interviewing celebrities and performing in public.
The conversation goes behind the scenes of booking famous guests, dealing with gatekeeping publicists, and why she’s so selective about who appears on Really Famous. Kara and Matt discuss persistence in the face of constant rejection, the reality of slow growth when you start a podcast or creative business, and why collaboration and networks might help new creators. Kara also offers grounded advice on dealing with hate comments, separating your self-worth from online negativity, and remembering that even the most “really famous” people struggle with insecurity and self-doubt. If you’re an aspiring podcaster, interviewer, creator, or just someone curious about mental health, authenticity, and building a meaningful career in entertainment, this episode is packed with real talk, practical wisdom, and behind-the-scenes stories from Hollywood and beyond.